Vitamin D and Risk for Type 2 Diabetes in People With Prediabetes
Authors: Anastassios G. Pittas, Tetsuya Kawahara, Rolf Jorde, Bess Dawson-Hughes, Ethan M. Balk
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2023)

LettersAugust 2023Vitamin D and Risk for Type 2 Diabetes in People With PrediabetesAnastassios G. Pittas, MD, MS, Tetsuya Kawahara, MD, PhD, Rolf Jorde, MD, PhD, Bess Dawson-Hughes, MD, Ethan M. Balk, MD, MPHAnastassios G. Pittas, MD, MSDivision of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, Tetsuya Kawahara, MD, PhDDepartment of Internal Medicine, Kokura Medical Association Health Testing Center, Kitakyushu, Japan, Rolf Jorde, MD, PhDInstitute of Clinical Medicine, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway, Bess Dawson-Hughes, MDDivision of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Tufts Medical Center, and Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts, Ethan M. Balk, MD, MPHCenter for Evidence Synthesis in Health, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, Rhode IslandAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/L23-0202 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail IN RESPONSE: We thank Mr. Hands and colleagues for their insightful comment. Our hypothesis that suppression of CYP2R1 in persons with obesity leads to reduced production of blood 25-hydroxyvitamin D may explain why vitamin D seems to work better in leaner people with prediabetes. However, it does not preclude other explanations.Several lines of evidence support a beneficial role for vitamin D in pancreatic β-cell function—either directly by binding to β-cell vitamin D receptors or indirectly by regulating calcium flux through the β cell, which is important for calcium-mediated insulin secretion (1). Vitamin D therefore may work better for diabetes ...References1. Pittas AG, Lau J, Hu FB, et al. The role of vitamin D and calcium in type 2 diabetes. A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2007;92:2017-29. [PMID: 17389701] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. Kawahara T, Suzuki G, Mizuno S, et al. Effect of active vitamin D treatment on development of type 2 diabetes: DPVD randomised controlled trial in Japanese population. BMJ. 2022;377:e066222. [PMID: 35613725] doi:10.1136/bmj-2021-066222 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Brooks-Worrell B, Hampe CS, Hattery EG, et al; GRADE Beta-cell Ancillary Study Network. Islet autoimmunity is highly prevalent and associated with diminished β-cell function in patients with type 2 diabetes in the grade study. Diabetes. 2022;71:1261-71. [PMID: 35061024] doi:10.2337/db21-0590 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Anastassios G. Pittas, MD, MS; Tetsuya Kawahara, MD, PhD; Rolf Jorde, MD, PhD; Bess Dawson-Hughes, MD; Ethan M. Balk, MD, MPHAffiliations: Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MassachusettsDepartment of Internal Medicine, Kokura Medical Association Health Testing Center, Kitakyushu, JapanInstitute of Clinical Medicine, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, NorwayDivision of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Tufts Medical Center, and Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, Boston, MassachusettsCenter for Evidence Synthesis in Health, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, Rhode IslandDisclosures: Disclosures can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=M22-3018. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoVitamin D and Risk for Type 2 Diabetes in People With Prediabetes Anastassios G. Pittas , Tetsuya Kawahara , Rolf Jorde , Bess Dawson-Hughes , Ellen M. Vickery , Edith Angellotti , Jason Nelson , Thomas A. Trikalinos , and Ethan M. Balk Vitamin D and Risk for Type 2 Diabetes in People With Prediabetes Jacob M. Hands , Rhonda Patrick , Leigh A. Frame Metrics August 2023Volume 176, Issue 8KeywordsDiabetes preventionGlucose intoleranceType 2 diabetesVitamin D ePublished: 15 August 2023 Issue Published: August 2023 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2023 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...